Printer for printing on histology laboratory consumables

Abstract

A printer for printing on histology-laboratory consumable articles ( 16 ) includes a control apparatus ( 8 ), which is configured to receive analog or digital image signals of a target impression image pattern, and an optical reading apparatus ( 13 ). The optical reading apparatus ( 13 ) reads an impression ( 18 ) printed on a histology-laboratory consumable article ( 16 ) by the printing device ( 4 ), generates analog or digital impression image signals relating to the impression ( 18 ) that has been read, and transfers the impression image signals to the control apparatus ( 8 ). The control apparatus ( 8 ) evaluates the impression image signals received from the optical reading apparatus ( 13 ) by comparing them with the analog or digital image signals of the target impression image pattern and determines at least one quality parameter relating to the impression ( 18 ).

1 . A printer having a printing device ( 4 ) for printing on histology-laboratory consumable articles ( 16 ) having a control apparatus ( 8 ) which is configured to receive analog or digital image signals of a target impression image pattern, and having an optical reading apparatus ( 13 ), wherein the optical reading apparatus ( 13 ) reads an impression ( 18 ) printed on a histology-laboratory consumable article ( 16 ) by the printing device ( 4 ), generates analog or digital impression image signals relating to the impression ( 18 ) that has been read, and transfers the impression image signals to the control apparatus ( 8 ), which evaluates the impression image signals received from the optical reading apparatus ( 13 ) by comparing them with the analog or digital image signals of the target impression image pattern and determines at least one quality parameter relating to the impression ( 18 ). 
     
     
         2 . The printer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the control apparatus ( 8 ) as a function of the evaluation result establishes at least one processing step for the further processing of the histology-laboratory consumable article ( 16 ) inside the printer. 
     
     
         3 . The printer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the control apparatus ( 8 ) compares the impression image signals received from the optical reading apparatus ( 13 ) with the image signals of the target impression image pattern by image analysis and/or pattern recognition. 
     
     
         4 . The printer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 a. the quality parameter relates to the sharpness of the impression ( 18 ), and/or   b. the quality parameter relates to the contrast of the impression ( 18 ), and/or in that   c. the quality parameter relates to the printing resolution of the impression ( 18 ), and/or   d. the quality parameter relates to the accuracy of the color of the impression ( 18 ), and/or   e. the quality parameter relates to the constancy of the color of the impression ( 18 ), and/or   f. the quality parameter relates to the color gradient of the impression ( 18 ), and/or   g. the quality parameter relates to the location of the impression ( 18 ) on the histology-laboratory consumable article ( 16 ), and/or   h. the quality parameter relates to the presence of the impression ( 18 ) on the histology-laboratory consumable article ( 16 ).   
     
     
         5 . The printer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein one of the processing steps involves requesting an input by a user. 
     
     
         6 . The printer as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the control apparatus ( 8 ) evaluates the input, and as a function of the input, deletes an already established processing step and/or establishes at least one further processing step for the further processing of the histology-laboratory consumable article ( 16 ). 
     
     
         7 . The printer as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the control apparatus ( 8 ) stops the processing of a histology-laboratory consumable article ( 16 ), in relation to which an input is expected, until the input arrives, and instead begins or continues the processing of at least one other histology-laboratory consumable article ( 16 ). 
     
     
         8 . The printer as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein one of the processing steps involves outputting a message to a user. 
     
     
         9 . The printer as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein one of the processing steps involves repeating the printing of the target impression image pattern on another histology-laboratory consumable article ( 16 ). 
     
     
         10 . The printer as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the control apparatus ( 8 ) establishes at least one printing parameter for the repetition of the printing of the target impression image pattern on another histology-laboratory consumable article ( 16 ) as a function of the image signals of the impression ( 18 ) that has been read and/or as a function of a quality parameter determined relating to the impression ( 18 ). 
     
     
         11 . The printer as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the printing parameter relates to the ink or the toner or a drying temperature or a drying duration or a font size to be used or a font type to be used. 
     
     
         12 . The printer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the control apparatus ( 8 ) respectively saves the received impression image signals in a memory apparatus ( 12 ) or in that the control apparatus ( 8 ) respectively saves the received impression image signals together with the image signals of the associated target impression image pattern. 
     
     
         13 . The printer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the printer comprises a transport apparatus ( 3 ) which transports the histology-laboratory consumable articles ( 16 ). 
     
     
         14 . The printer as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the printer comprises a compartment for a multiplicity of histology-laboratory consumable articles ( 16 ) to be printed on, from which the transport apparatus ( 3 ) individually takes the histology-laboratory consumable articles ( 16 ) to be printed on and transports them further to the printing device ( 4 ). 
     
     
         15 . The printer as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the transport apparatus ( 3 ) transports the histology-laboratory consumable articles ( 16 ) printed on by the printing device ( 4 ) further, in particular to a removal device ( 7 ). 
     
     
         16 . The printer as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the optical reading apparatus ( 13 ) reads the impression ( 18 ) respectively during the transport of the histology-laboratory consumable article ( 16 ) that has been printed on. 
     
     
         17 . The printer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 a. the printing device ( 4 ) is configured to apply an impression ( 18 ) configured as an image or as a barcode or as a QR code or as a logo or as text onto the histology-laboratory consumable article, and/or   b. the optical reading apparatus ( 13 ) is configured and arranged to read an impression ( 18 ) configured as an image or as a barcode or as a QR code or as a logo or as text.   
     
     
         18 . The printer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the control apparatus ( 8 ) continuously keeps a log. 
     
     
         19 . The printer as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the control apparatus ( 8 ) saves log data in a memory and/or outputs them via an interface and/or displays them on an output device. 
     
     
         20 . The printer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the printer is configured as an inkjet printer or as a laser printer. 
     
     
         21 . The printer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the printer is configured as a cassette printer and/or as a slide printer and/or as a label printer. 
     
     
         22 . The printer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the histology-laboratory consumable article ( 16 ) is a cassette ( 17 ) or a slide ( 19 ) or a label. 
     
     
         23 . A histology laboratory system which comprises a printer as claimed in  claim 1  and a superordinate computer, which receives log data from the printer. 
     
     
         24 . The histology laboratory system as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein:
 a. the superordinate computer receives further log data of other printers and/or other laboratory equipment, or in that   b. the superordinate computer receives further log data of other printers and/or other laboratory equipment and respectively saves and/or further processes the log data and the further log data, which relate to the same sample, while being assigned to one another and together.